With my regular doctor I have had blood test 3 times in the last month showing my creatinine level being between 1.44 and 1.61. He is suggesting I see a Nephrologist.

What can I expect at this first appointment? What kind of questions should I ask? How bad are these numbers?

Thanks

First off, try not to worry too much. Those numbers, while elevated, are not that bad.

Has your doc suggested what the cause of the elevated creatinine is? Do you have diabetes? High blood pressure? Something else? This would be the thing to discuss with the nephrologist. It is good that you are being referred right away. Studies have shown that seeing a nephrologist early is always a good thing.

The good news is that most kidney issues tend to progress very slowly. It will be important to keep your blood pressure under good control, so discuss that with the neph too. Kidney damage can cause high bp, and high bp can cause kidney damage. It is a vicious circle and something you need to keep an eye on.

To put things into perspective for you, I didn't need any significant intervention until my creatinine was about 6 or 7. So you have a very long way to go. Keep in mind that everyone is different.

So to start, talk about causes of your kidney issues, and what the neph suggests you do to maintain your kidney function as long as possible. This may involve bp meds, dietary changes (high levels of animal protein are hard on the kidneys) and you may have to limit certain over the counter meds like nsaids (ibuprofen).